DEATHSCRIBE X – A Few Words with Sara Sevigny

Three-time DEATHSCRIBE-winning director Sara Sevigny is a Chicago-based actor, singer, improviser, writer, and director of festivals or one night only events. A full run? You’ve lost your mind. She holds the record for most wins by a director, having previous helmed Bloody Axe winners Fracture Zone by Christopher M. Walsh, Earwigs by Joseph Zettelmaier, and last year’s The Quake by Travis Williams. She loves every dog in the world, overly dramatic karaoke, and fighting zombies. You’ll thank her. Acting TV credits include 20th Century Fox’s EMPIRE and THE GABRIELS, and ABC’s MINDGAMES. With her comedy partner Corrbette Pasko, Sara has written: The League of Awesome (2010), Autumn Leaves (2014), Thirty Days in the Rabbit Hole (Abbie Hoffman Festival, 2014), Foil (2015), and Zombie Broads (Fall 2016). They also have a YouTube channel, Corri and Sara, that you should totally like, and a webseries, Corri and Sara are Famous. A proud member of the Actor’s Equity Association and SAG-AFTRA, you can check our her credits on her website. Sara currently resides as an ensemble member and playwright with The Factory Theater in Chicago.

What additional projects do you have, previous or pending, that we can brag about for you?

Other People’s Children can be watched in full on their websiteopcseries.com. I’m in the pilot. It’s hilarious. Um…goodness this question. Edna is back on Empire this season in episode 5, but will hopefully pop up again later this year. Corri and Sara are Famous – the webseries I’m writing with Corrbette Pasko – is currently in production, and that’s stupid exciting for both of us.

Looking back on previous Deathscribes, what are some of your favorite moments, either in rehearsal or in performance?

Ele smashing the pumpkin and then using the rain stick to emulate earwigs falling out of a head that just exploded was one of my all time favorite moments. It was ridiculous. It was epic. It was cheer worthy!

How has Deathscribe changed you as a director? How has horror theatre?

I think the actual act of listening is something that is so important to radio drama that sometime can get washed over when you add visuals. Watching a show allows you to fill in the blanks if you miss a word or don’t understand the language. You are able to watch the performances and react accordingly. By removing sight, everything becomes about the story. Are you honoring it? Are you really talking and listening to each other as actors? Are you having an unspoken conversation with the foley, so that each sound effect compliments the world you are trying to create. The goal is to be able to close your eyes and still be moved, or terrified, or surprised…these moments are paramount to having it resonate with the audience.

Latest favorite scary movie/show/podcast/play (whichever)?

Honestly? The Handmaid’s Tale on Hulu. I read the book in high school, I think freshman year, and it was the first time it was plainly presented how easily my sex could be overpowered and completely taken over. It isn’t new. We’ve witnessed this happen to different groups based on religion, race, or gender throughout history, but we’ve convinced ourselves that it couldn’t happen again. We’ve evolved, right? Right.

What scares you?

The loss of self. Either when you know it’s happening and you’re trapped inside your mind while something or someone else controls you, or that last moment when you know you are about to wink out and someone or something else will have total control. You’re just gone. That is terrifying.

DEATHSCRIBE X will take place Monday, December 4th, at Lincoln Hall in Chicago. Click the link below for more information.